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It took Imogen a split second for her mind to reach Laudna, the very thought that she was in danger had sent her into a spiral of panic. What if Laudna was still in the Hellcatch Valley? What iff they had captured her?
Laudna!, her frantic mind searching for a connection she knew by heart, Fearne, FCG, Chet and I appeared near Uthodurn. We're fine, we don't understand anything. Where are you? You OK? Orym and Ashton with you?
The seconds that passed after she sent her message felt like an eternity, Fearne's hand on her shoulder helping her to wait but her desperation grew quickly.
None of them understood how they had ended up in that remote place but the absence of their friends, the most calming part of their party, had made them all nervous. Even Chetney seemed restless and an anxious energy emanated from him. The cold landscape that surrounded them was in stark contrast to the hot desert they had been in until a short time ago, everything seemed out of place and a little gloomy. The weight on Imogen's chest settled harder and more insistently as it tried to morph into fear.
Imogen! I am so happy that you are well… and the others too. Orym and Ashton are with me but we don't know where we are.
Relief coursed through every cell of Imogen's being at the sound of Laudna's voice, each word a balm to her worried heart, and she couldn’t help but smile in spite of the dire situation.
"They're fine," Imogen informed the rest. "But they don't know where they are... at least they are together"
“Tell Orym…”
"I'll ask my coin if Ashton..."
"Stop blabbering and get off your ass before we freeze out here."
Chetney raised his voice over the others words, cutting them off and sounding more gruff than usual. Imogen decided to ignore it and sent another message.
Laud, we’ll follow Chet to Uthodurn, try to identify where you are, I'll get to you as soon as I can… I love you.
She said it almost in a gasp, as if the distance changed its meaning. It wasn't like when they were in the Silver Sun, embraced by the intimacy of a doomsday confession, but the words spilled from her heart without her being able to stop them.
The group began to walk with the sun peeking into the horizon behind them, the terrain was difficult and the harsh cold began to set in against their clothes, which made them realize they were dressed decidedly incorrect for that climate, when Laudna’s response arrived.
We’re going north, there’s a small hamlet between the mountains, surely they will tell us where we are. Take care. I love you so much.
Heat coursed through Imogen's body, starting from the center of her chest, and suddenly she didn't feel so cold anymore. She looked ahead with determination, she had to get to Laudna soon. The last time they had been apart had been the worst week of her life but now it was different, both were fine and actively working to meet again. She knew that they were going to gather the strange group of her friends, that family that they found along the way, and they would focus their sights on Ludinus and Liliana. But for now, the priority was going back to Laudna.
They walked for most of the day in the direction of a particular mountain, neither of them seeing the town that Chetney said was there but they trusted him. The road was difficult and steep, they advanced slowly. When they had given up hope of reaching it before night fell again, the mountain path they had been traveling opened up and the entrance to Uthodurn loomed before them.
The main entrance to the city was marked by a perimeter fence and a dozen stone towers, four of them around the central structure. There were small buildings, liveries and stables, which dotted the landscape as a way of welcoming travelers. Beyond the entrance they could see numerous spiral staircases leading down to the city proper, each about 15 feet wide.
The stairs led to a large dome-like area about a hundred feet wide, the air was much warmer than outside and it smelled of damp earth, burnt wood, soot, and iron.
“Cover your faces,” Chetney growled under his breath, pulling his wool cap closer over his eyes as if trying to hide.
The others looked surprised but they did as they had been told. The guards at the entrance only nodded when they saw them pass.
"We have to stay away from the Augur Trail" Chetney told them once inside and urged them to follow in his footsteps.
The old gnome continued to lead them up narrower and narrower stairs and bridges, it seemed the city was divided into levels, "Disks" Chet had said half-reluctantly when Fearne, with all his inquisitive innocence, had begun pointing out the rock formations. Each disk contained immense pillars that seemed to support the ceiling of the caverns, some of which had been built with houses, a mixture of elven and dwarven architecture, to use all available space.
In a short time they found a small inn that went unnoticed in the middle of larger constructions, if having a low profile was their goal then this place was perfect for them.
They rented a small shared room, it had just a small window in one wall and an old oil lamp as the only things that gave light to the interior. Imogen at a table in a corner, in one of the only two chairs, her anxiety had returned.
"Maybe I should send them another message," she said, seeking agreement from the others.
"You don't need to expend all your energy, Imogen," FCG replied, rolling over to where she was sitting. "I can talk to Ashton."
Imogen wanted to tell them that she wanted to talk to Laudna again, that hearing her voice in her mind was the reassurance she needed, but decided to keep those words to herself.
After a few seconds in which FCG maintained silence and concentration, while Imogen held her breath, they received news.
“Ashton says that the town was further away than they expected, they are going to camp in a cave they found. And they say that between them and Orym would take good care of the dead lady” this last was addressed to Imogen, surely by way of reassuring her but she couldn't help but feel that if she wasn't close to Laudna then she couldn't be well taken care of. It was a silly thought, of course, both Ash and Orym were very capable fighters, even more so than she was, and Laudna would be fine with them.
"While you guys get all chatty, I'll go get some food," Chetney announced, heading for the door.
"Need help, Chet?" Fearne offered, but was politely refused.
"You will attract attention and believe me we do not want some people to know that we are here"
"You know what, Chet?" It was Imogen who spoke just before the gnome left the room. "We trust you and we will do as you say but we know that there is something else going on here"
"Yes, Chet... we respect your privacy and all your old man energy but you have to work with us here" Fearne spoke in a soft tone but with an uncharacteristic seriousness.
Chetney said nothing but he looked at the two women and nodded solemnly before leaving the room.
It wasn't long before Chetney returned with food and some hopeful information. A skyship would set sail from the Uthodurn in the direction of Jrusar in two days, it was the closest thing there was to returning to a place somewhat known to them.
"Tomorrow we will communicate what you found to the other group, I think that at this time they’re already asleep... at least from what Ashton said"
Imogen had hoped she could message Laudna again, but FCG was right.
They all prepared to rest, the events of the day adding to the uncertainty about what could happen weighed on their bodies. There were two beds in the room, Chetney collapsed on one of them wiggling his eyebrows suggestively in the direction of the two women in the group, it seemed that some of his humor had returned.
"Oh, okay," Fearne said smiling cheekily, "I think you deserve some cuddling from Fearne." She lay down on the bed, almost crushing him and putting her arm around him, "So I can also make sure you don't sneak out during the night."
"I wouldn't even dream of it," replied the gnome, red to the hairs on his ears.
FCG rolled over to the bed where Imogen had sat.
“You sleep in this bed too, Letters?
“No need, Imogen. I can go into stasis without needing to lie down, but I wanted to ask you if you need company in your dreams tonight?
Imogen contemplated reaching out to her mother again, seeing what happened to her and the whole Predathos thing, but Liliana had proven to be very powerful and she didn't want to stir up trouble now that her party was separated.
“Thank you, but not today, FCG. We all could use the rest and I think that with the circlet I will be able to rest free of unexpected invasions”
"I think you're right," the robit told her with all the sympathy they could conjure up from their metallic face, and with a hand on Imogen's forearm, continued, "I'm sure Laudna will be waiting for you."
Imogen didn't know if FCG meant that Laudna would wait for her to find her or if she would wait for her in her dreams, either way an idea was planted in her mind. An idea she was a little afraid to try.
Perhaps Imogen fell asleep thinking about what FCG had said or perhaps thinking about Laudna, as happened so many times even with Laudna by her side, the fact is that in the middle of the night when she was finally able to fall asleep, curled up between the blankets of a uncomfortable bed and missing the closeness of a familiar body at her side, her dreams took her to a place she had never been.
The walls of a cold gray cave stretched out beyond what she could see, in the distance water drops could be heard falling and creating an echo, a light barely illuminated the circle around her coming from a distant hole in the roof of the cave. Imogen strained to hear if Ruidus's stormy wind had accompanied her to this dream but there was no sound other than that of the cave... and footsteps. Imogen went on alert, hands outstretched in front of her trying to focus her magic.
“Imogen?”
A female voice carried through the stone walls, bouncing off dips and ledges to reach her.
"Luad? Laud, is that you?”
"Imogen, where are you?"
The voice didn't sound scared or hurt, it didn't sound like it was in any danger, but Imogen started walking urgently. The sound of footsteps approaching her also became louder and clearer.
Turning a corner, she nearly collided with another body that seemed just as agitated as she was.
“Imogen!” It was a whisper full of surprise and suppressed joy.
In a second Imogen found herself surrounded by familiar reassuring arms as Laudna gave her a full-body hug and she returned it wholeheartedly.
"Darling, are you okay? Did that explosion hurt you? Did it steal your magic? No, that can't be, otherwise you wouldn't be in my dreams... You're in my dreams, right?"
Imogen could only smile, her eyes softened at the mere presence of the woman.
“Yes, Laud, I think I'm in your dreams. I don't know this place”
“It looks a lot like the cave Orym found to rest in for the night,” the other woman commented, looking around.
"Are you far away from the town?"
"Less than half a day away, we’ll get up early to arrive as soon as possible and thus know where we are"
"Then I'll let you rest…" Imogen said, trying to pull herself out of Laudna's arms that were still around her. A task that was proving to be incredibly difficult.
"You don't have to go yet," Laudna hastened to stop her. Her fists closed on the fabric of Imogen's clothing.
Imogen, content to remain in her embrace, looked curiously into Laudna's face, her dark eyes roaming her face with concern. She cupped her cheeks lovingly.
“I'm fine, Laud” she whispered “I know we don't fully understand what has happened and that my mother has turned out to be… well, not what I expected, but at least we are all alive and we will get out of this, together "
"Together," Laudna repeated in the same reverent tone.
An icy breeze swept through the cavern, making the women shiver with cold.
"I think I'm waking up..."
Imogen clung to Laudna tightly.
"Take care, please. FCG and I will be communicating with you throughout the day”
"You too take care... and them too"
They remained for a few moments just contemplating each other until Laudna began to slowly disappear.
"Save a Sending for me," she said with a mischievous wink at Imogen, just before she disappeared.
Imogen woke suddenly, back in bed at the inn in Uthodurn. Fearne slept over the other bed with Chetney safe in her arms, FCG still in stasis.
With a smile on her lips she rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.